Asphalt is one of the most common paving materials due to many benefits like durability, cost-efficiency, and water drainage capabilities. It is often used in constructing walkways, patios, public roads, and other types of pavements with high traffic needs.
However, there comes a time when asphalt requires repair, despite its noteworthy benefits. For instance, heavy weights, extreme weather, and other external factors on asphalt can loosen its properties, resulting in visible cracks or damage.
If your asphalt pavement is more than thirty years old, chances are you have started to notice signs of wear and tear. You don’t have to wait for it to get damaged completely to replace it when you can repair it.
Infrared asphalt repair is one sustainable repair method for asphalt paving. It involves using infrared heat to warm the damaged area and then applying the material used for repairs.
Like any other asphalt repair method, you should understand the cost of infrared asphalt repair to plan your finances. This blog breaks down the cost factors of infrared asphalt repair to help you make an informed decision. Keep reading.
Benefits of Infrared Asphalt Repair
Infrared asphalt repair is a cost-effective method of keeping your asphalt paving safe. Here are the main reasons you should choose this repair method for your property.
- Cost savings: The method does not use many raw materials.
- Time savings: The process takes less time than traditional asphalt repair methods.
- Fewer traffic interruptions: You don’t have to worry about traffic interruptions when repairing public paving because the patch dries up immediately.
- Seamless results: An infrared asphalt repair patch bonds well with the existing surface. It’s hard for the surface to crack or allow water in after the process.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Infrared Asphalt Repair
Keep in mind these factors when budgeting for your infrared asphalt repair process.
1. Size of the Damaged Area
The cost of infrared asphalt repair depends on the size of the damaged area. If the area needing repair is large, the cost will be significantly higher than repairing a small area.
On average, the infrared asphalt repair cost may range from $2 to $6 according to the size of the patch. You can expect to pay anything between $100 and $300 for a small and medium-sized project and up to $1000 for a repair process covering a large area, such as in a public walkway or road.
Before starting the repair process, the contractor should examine the damaged area and give you the ideal cost estimate.
2. Extent of Damage
What’s the level of damage to asphalt? The extent of asphalt damage can range from mild to severe. Mild damage can be a small crack or pothole on the paving, while extensive damage may be a deep crack or hole. Heavily damaged asphalt will require more infrared repair; hence, the total costs will be more.
3. Permits
It’s vital to obtain a permit before starting an asphalt repair process. The permit notifies the authorities that there’s an undergoing process, and it is a legal requirement in many states. While you may not need a permit for minor repairs at home, the permit is mandatory when repairing a huge area, especially if you have to interfere with the movement of people or cause any other inconveniences.
The permit costs range from city to city, whereby, you may only pay $10 for the permit in one city and $100 in another one. Be sure to confirm the permit cost while calculating the overall costs of infrared asphalt repair.
4. Pavement Slope and Condition
A sloped surface requires more preparation than a flat surface. Similarly, areas with many trees and nearby properties may require more preparations and surveys to make the repair process successful.
All these preparations involve labor costs, so the total costs may be high if an intense grading/preparation is done. The average cost of grading is $1.50 per square foot.
5. Asphalt Sealing
Sealing is the process of adding a coat on top of the repaired asphalt surface to increase the durability of the asphalt. Before the infrared asphalt repair process, your contractor may talk to you about the sealing process.
The seal protects the repaired surface and increases its curb appeal. If you want to add a seal, you should factor in the seal cost, which has a national average of $160.
The cost of sealed asphalt may start from $0.20 per square meter, but you may pay more depending on the city and the company you work with. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to seal the asphalt surface after repair to protect it against heavyweights and increase its curb appeal.
6. Accessibility
The location of the asphalt pavement is also a significant determinant of the costs. If the area is easy to access, trucks or contractors will readily reach there, decreasing fuel costs.
Similarly, a hard-to-reach area will attract more fuel and labor expenses, translating to more costs. The delivery fees can range from $40 to $70 per hour if you live more than 20 miles away from the hot asphalt plants.
7. Service Costs
Contractors offer varying costs for infrared asphalt repair service.
While some firms may charge $100 for minor repairs, some may charge up to $250 for a small space. Contractors with the most experience and reputation tend to charge higher, but this is not always the case. Be sure to compare around to know what different contractors offer.
8. Other Customizations
You may incur other additional costs according to the type of customizations you want for your asphalt paving. For instance, stamped or colored asphalt may be costlier than the plain one. Be sure to communicate your specific needs to get the ideal price quote.
Contact Us to Get an Infrared Asphalt Repair Price Quote
Richfield Blacktop offers competitive pricing for infrared asphalt repair. We have the skills and the tools needed to repair your asphalt paving within a short time excellently. Contact our team today to get a price estimate for your asphalt repair project. Our friendly team will be glad to explain your options based on your needs, the size of the area, and the extent of the damage.
